Five to Watch: All-Star Race weekend

By Marissa Fuller | Friday, May 17, 2019

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Harris Lue | NASCAR Digital Media

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There's a lot at stake this Saturday for drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). There may be even more on the line for drivers racing to ensure their spot in the lineup. But, of course, $1 million is the ultimate prize -- who couldn't use money like that? Here are five story lines to watch this weekend.

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Marissa Fuller | NASCAR Digital Media

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RULES CHANGES: The rules package for this weekend has a target horsepower of 550 with aero ducts and a single-piece carbon fiber splitter/pan that will provide a more stable aero platform and create more consistent performance in traffic. Cars also have a new radiator duct that exits through the hood and not into the engine compartment, which will create improved aerodynamic parity and reduce engine temperatures. As teams hit the track for two practices on Friday, some felt the rules package was still a work in progress and others didn't see too much of a difference. "You really can't tell anything with the hood ducts that I've noticed. I haven't noticed anything about them except engine temperatures being hotter," said Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch. Busch's teammate Denny Hamlin didn't notice a huge difference during practice but believes the ultimate test will come only when cars are caught up in traffic. "I'm guessing they said they were doing this to help with the cars in traffic. I think that remains to be seen until we actually get in the All-Star Race and see how it goes."

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THE UNKNOWN: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Open is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Saturday followed by the All-Star Race at 8 p.m. ET. Drivers did not get the opportunity to practice when the sun begins to set, like it will be for the race, meaning that the temperature change could affect the way the track drives. Ryan Newman doesn't know what the track will feel like tomorrow, especially as the sun goes down and the traction compound is potentially worn out. "It seems like the (PJ1) is happy when it gets that heat on it. It takes heat to activate it. I don't know how it's going to be, honestly, when we go green."

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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

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SO CLOSE: Kevin Harvick had his best race of 2019 last week at Kansas Speedway until a windshield tear-off got stuck on this nose of his car. He led 104 laps and started on the pole before losing the lead and rallying back to finish 13th. That seems to be the story for Stewart-Haas Racing this year, having not won a race thus far but coming close on multiple occasions. By this time last year, SHR already had six wins under its belt. Five of those came from Harvick. Are SHR and Harvick approaching their first win? It seems that way. "I look at things as if you're going to have a chance to win, you have to lead laps and you have to have speed," he said. "You have to be able to lead laps to consistently win these races."

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ALL ABOUT THE MONEY: What would you do if $1 million were on the line? We see it a lot during races -- pushing it to the limits to try to win -- but in a race that doesn't count for points, are the rules different? Maybe so. "There is no etiquette," Ryan Blaney said. "That's what this race is. It's a no points race. You're racing for a lot of money and you do what you have to do. That's a kind of in the moment thing." Be prepared to see some intense racing tomorrow under the lights.

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Chris Graythen | Getty Images

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SAY WHAT? The All-Star Race has produced 23 different winners since its debut, but some big names are missing from the list of winners. Who are they and will this weekend finally be their time? We'll find out. Among those big names are Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott. Notably, Keselowski has the most starts of the winless drivers with 10, finishing in the top five twice, top 10 twice and scoring a best finish of second. Bowyer has the second-most starts without a win with nine. He has one top 10 and a best finish of seventh. He will start tomorrow's race from the pole. Truex has eight starts under his belt in the All-Star Race with a best second-place finish. Will we see one of their names added to the list?

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